One to go to become Epic Legends

Two New Zealanders look to complete the set – all three week-long Epic Series races – at the 2019 Absa Cape Epic.

Having finished the Swiss Epic and The Pioneer, Kylie Burrows and Alexander Donaldson have only the Absa Cape Epic to conquer to be awarded the coveted Epic Legend medals. If all goes well over the eight days, 624 kilometres (with 16 650 meters of climbing) they’ll join the seven special athletes who’ve completed all three Epic Series Legend Races.

The two are Kiwis and their route to the start of the untamed African mountain bike stage race took them around the world. Donaldson managed to complete both the Swiss Epic and The Pioneer late last year – within two and a half months! Burrows competed in the 2016 Swiss Epic and between then and riding The Pioneer last year, she had another battle to win. Excited to be standing on South African soil ready to race, Burrows enthused, “It will be a bit of a celebration as well as I will be two years post breast cancer so I am stoked I am here and well enough to participate.” Donaldson has spent the last part of his pre-event preparation time in Cape Town, notably posting an excellent result at the Cape Town Cycle Tour.

They’ll join 1350 riders as they roll off the prologue start ramp at University of Cape Town onto the slopes of the iconic Table Mountain before heading to the craggy shoreline of the Southern Coast and onto traversing the famous Winelands and beyond into the high mountains of the Western Cape. Of those 1350, they’ll meet five of the seven Epic Legend riders, who’re back for more at the 2019 edition, including the first ever, Minter Barnard from Australia.

Rugged mountain trails, bone jarring dual tracks, windswept gravel roads and sand lie between them and their Epic Legend medals, waiting for them at the Grand Finale in Val de Vie Estate, the Champs-Élysées of mountain biking. No doubt they’ll be cheered on by fans, and their spirits buoyed by the legendary camaraderie among the riders at the race.

To follow them on their journey go to www.cape-epic.com – they’ll have their Spot Trackers on.